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After nearly two months of uncertainty, the Trump administration announced on Monday that its review of aid programmes – initially set to last 90 days – was completed in just six weeks. A total of 83 per cent of the US foreign assistance has been eliminated, scrapping around 5,200 out of 6,200 USAid grants. The global aid sector is now having to come to terms with the fallout of billions in support evaporating overnight.
International Geneva’s organisations haven’t come out unscathed. As of 20 January 2025, 54 organisations held 241 active US grants worth around $20.6 billion, with $4.1bn still undisbursed, according to the US open data platform USAspending.gov. While many of these projects span multiple years, making the annual allocation lower, the impact remains significant, considering that the US had planned to spend $58.4bn in foreign assistance in 2025.
Organisations in Geneva and beyond have begun receiving the dreaded email confirming the abrupt withdrawal of support, forcing projects to shut down mid-way and leading to widespread layoffs. The announcements have plunged the sector into turmoil. Adding to the confusion, some have received a second letter reversing the termination, offering temporary relief though exposing the unpredictable landscape organisations will now have to navigate.
Read the full story on Geneva Solutions.
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